Can Artificial Intelligence Improve Prior Authorization or Will It Make Matters Worse?

Prior authorization is a process used by health insurers to control overuse and spending, but it often results in care delays and patient frustration. Artificial intelligence could theoretically expedite approvals for straightforward claims by quickly sorting through data. However, many physicians worry that AI-driven prior authorization may increase wrongful denials; a 2025 American Medical Association survey found that 61 percent of doctors believe AI will exacerbate denials of necessary treatments.